Cooler

ABSTRACT

A cooler includes a cold plate to absorb heat from a heat source into coolant, a housing filled with the coolant and located on an upper side of the cold plate in a first direction X, and a partition located on a lower side in the housing. An inflow port and an outflow port are provided on one side in a second direction Y perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction X. The cold plate includes a first plate chamber and a second plate chamber in which the coolant flows between the cold plate and the partition. The partition includes a first through-hole communicating with the first plate chamber. The first plate chamber is farthest from the inflow port to the other side in the second direction Y. The housing includes a communication flow path allowing the inflow port to communicate with the first through-hole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-125612 filed on Jul. 22, 2020 and Japanese Application No. 2021-018304 filed on Feb. 8, 2021 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cooling unit.

BACKGROUND

Cooling systems have been conventionally known, the cooling systems each including a metal cooling panel for cooling a heating element such as a battery or an electronic component, and a resin flow path that is joined to the metal cooling panel and through which coolant flows. The resin flow path has a coolant injection port and a coolant recovery port. The conventional cooling systems have a structure in which the resin flow path is provided in a horizontal direction with respect to the heating element.

The conventional flow path has a port through which the coolant flows in and out, and the coolant flows evenly throughout the flow path when the coolant has a constant flow rate at any location. Unfortunately, the flow rate of the coolant is not actually constant. For example, when a pump is provided near the coolant injection port and a coolant flow branch port, the coolant has a high flow rate toward the coolant injection port and the coolant flow branch port, and a low flow rate toward a coolant confluence port and the coolant recovery port. Thus, the coolant is likely to accumulate at the coolant confluence port and the coolant recovery port, so that cooling efficiency is lowered there.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment of a cooler according to the present disclosure includes a cold plate to absorb heat from a heat source into coolant, a housing filled with the coolant and located on an upper side of the cold plate in a first direction, and a partition located on a lower side in the housing. The housing includes an inflow port through which the coolant flows into the housing, and an outflow port through which the coolant flows out of the housing. The inflow port and the outflow port are provided on one side in a second direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The cold plate includes a first plate chamber and a second plate chamber in which the coolant flows between the cold plate and the partition. The partition includes a first through-hole communicating with the first plate chamber. The first plate chamber is farthest from the inflow port to another side in the second direction. The housing includes a communication flow path allowing the inflow port to communicate with the first through-hole.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cooling system equipped with a cooler of an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of a cooler according to a first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cooler according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view of the inside of a housing according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a view of a cold plate according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from an upper side in a first direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present application, a direction in which a housing 2 is disposed with respect to a cold plate 1 is referred to as a “first direction X”. Then, a vertical direction is defined such that a direction in which the housing 2 is disposed with respect to the cold plate 1 is referred to as an “upper side Xa”, and a direction opposite to the direction in which the housing 2 is disposed is referred to as a “lower side Xb”. In the present application, the vertical direction and a horizontal direction are defined for convenience of description, and thus do not limit an orientation of a cooler A according to the present disclosure at the time of manufacture and at the time of use.

A direction orthogonal to the first direction X is referred to as a “second direction Y”. One side in the second direction Y is referred to as “one side Ya in the second direction”, and the other side is referred to as “the other side Yb in the second direction”. Then, a direction orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y is referred to as a “third direction Z”. One side in the third direction Z is referred to as “one side Za in the third direction”, and the other side is referred to as “the other side Zb in the third direction”.

Additionally, an “orthogonal direction” in the present disclosure includes a substantially orthogonal direction.

A cooling system S and the cooler A according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the cooling system S equipped with the cooler A of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of the cooler A according to a first example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cooler A according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a view of the inside of a housing according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a view of the cold plate 1 according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from an upper side in a first direction X.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the cooling system S equipped with the cooler A of the present disclosure. The cooling system S includes the cooler A, a radiator B, and a coolant pipe C. The cooler A and the radiator B communicate with each other using a coolant pipe C, and coolant flows through these components. The coolant in the present example embodiment is a liquid, and available examples of the liquid include an antifreeze such as an ethylene glycol aqueous solution or a propylene glycol aqueous solution, and pure water.

The cooler A is provided with a heat generating component D attached as a heat source, and the cooler A receives heat from the heat generating component D. Examples of the heat generating component D include a microprocessor used in a computer, a power semiconductor used in an inverter, and the like. The cooler A receives heat that transfers using the coolant flowing through the coolant pipe C into the radiator B. When the coolant having the heat flows through the radiator B, the heat is dissipated to the outside.

The cooler A includes the cold plate 1, the housing 2, a partition 3, and a pump 4. The housing 2 and the pump 4 are disposed on the upper side Xa in the first direction of the cold plate 1.

The cold plate 1 is made of a metal having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. In the present example embodiment, the cold plate 1 is a plate component in a rectangular shape expanding in the second direction Y and the third direction Z in top view. The cold plate 1 according to the present example embodiment has a quadrangular shape in top view, but is not limited thereto. For example, the cold plate 1 may have a polygonal shape having a plurality of corners or a circular shape, in top view. The heat generating component D is in contact with a lower surface of the cold plate 1.

The cold plate 1 includes a plurality of fins 13 protruding toward the housing 2. The fins 13 are formed by a method called skiving in which the metal material of the cold plate 1 is shaved off to be erected. When the coolant flows between the fins 13, heat absorbed by the cold plate 1 can be more efficiently exchanged with the coolant. Thus, when the heat generating component D is brought into contact with the cold plate 1 on a side opposite a side where the fins 13 are located, the heat generating component D having a larger heating value can be heat exchanged with the cold plate 1 more efficiently.

The housing 2 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and is made of a resin material. The housing 2 can be easily made as compared with when the housing 2 is made of metal. Additionally, even in an environment where moisture or the like adheres, the housing 2 can be prevented from rusting.

The housing 2 includes an inflow port 21 through which coolant flows into the housing 2, and an outflow port 22 through which the coolant flows out of the housing 2. The coolant pipe C is attached to each of the inflow port 21 and the outflow port 22. The inflow port 21 and the outflow port 22 are provided on the one side Ya in the second direction. When the inflow port 21 and the outflow port 22 are each provided at a position in an identical direction, the cooler 1 can be reduced in length in the second direction Y.

The housing 2 includes a tank chamber 24 for storing coolant. The tank chamber 24 is a recess portion formed when the housing 2 is recessed to the upper side Xa in the first direction. The tank chamber 24 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. When the cooler B includes the tank chamber 24, the amount of coolant circulating in the cooling system S can be increased. For example, the coolant gradually leaks from a joint portion between a coolant pipe D and each component. Decrease in the amount of coolant deteriorates cooling efficiency. Ingress of air into the pump 4 deteriorates ability of the pump 4 to circulate coolant into the cooling system S. When the coolant is stored in the tank chamber 24, the amount of coolant for maintaining the cooling efficiency of the cooling system S can be secured. Additionally, even when air enters the cooling system S, the air can be stored in the tank chamber 24. This enables preventing deterioration in the ability to circulate the coolant due to the ingress of air into the pump 4.

The housing 2 includes a pump chamber 25 in which the pump 4 is disposed. The pump chamber 25 is provided on the one side Ya in the second direction with respect to the tank chamber 24. The pump chamber 25 is located between a plate chamber described later and the outflow port 22. The pump chamber 25 is provided on the lower side Xb with a suction port 251 communicating with the plate chamber, and the coolant flows from the plate chamber into the pump chamber 25 through the suction port 251. The pump 4 is a centrifugal pump, and sucks up the coolant in the plate chamber through the suction port 251 in the first direction X to feed the coolant toward the outflow port 22.

The housing 2 opens on the lower side Xb in the first direction. The partition 3 is located in an opening of the housing 2. That is, the partition 3 is located on the lower side Xb of the housing 2. In the present example embodiment, the partition 3 is separate from the housing 2.

The cold plate 1 includes the plate chamber in which the coolant flows between the cold plate 1 and the partition 3. The plate chamber includes a first plate chamber 11 and a second plate chamber 12. The partition 3 includes a partition wall 41 extending to the lower side Xb in the first direction and being in contact with the cold plate 1. The partition wall 41 defines each of the plate chambers. The first plate chamber 11 and the second plate chamber 12 are located in this order from the other side Yb in the second direction. That is, the first plate chamber 11 is provided at a position farthest from the inflow port 21 and the outflow port 22 provided on the one side Ya in the second direction.

The partition 3 includes a plurality of through-holes passing through the respective plate chambers and the housing 2. Specifically, the partition 3 includes a first through-hole 31 allowing the first plate chamber 11 to communicate with a communication flow path 23 described later, a second through-hole 32 allowing the first plate chamber 11 to communicate with the tank chamber 24, and a third through-hole 33 allowing the tank chamber 24 to communicate with the second plate chamber 12.

The heat generating component D is one of multiple heat generating components D that are each in contact with a surface on the lower side Xb of the cold plate 1 located in the corresponding one of the plate chambers. Heat of the heat generating components D is absorbed in the corresponding plate chambers.

The plate chambers are isolated for each of the heat generating components D, so that the coolant easily reaches corners in each of the plate chambers. This enables reducing stagnation of the coolant. Reducing the stagnation of the coolant enables heat to be exchanged more efficiently.

The housing 2 further includes the communication flow path 23 allowing the inflow port 21 to communicate with the first through-hole 31. The communication flow path 23 bypasses the tank chamber 24 and extends from the one side Ya to the other side Yb in the second direction. More specifically, the communication flow path 23 is located in a side portion in the tank chamber 24 in the third direction Z. This allows the inflow port 21, the communication flow path 23, the first plate chamber 11, the tank chamber 24, the second plate chamber 12, and the outflow port 22 to communicate with each other in this order.

When the inflow port 21 and the outflow port 22 are each provided at a position in an identical direction, the cooler 1 can be reduced in length in the second direction Y. If the plate chamber is a large continuous plate chamber from the one side Ya to the other side Yb in the second direction, a portion corresponding to the first plate chamber 11 is away from the inflow port 21. This slows a flow of the coolant, so that the coolant tends to stagnate in the first plate chamber 11. The pump 4 is also provided on the one side Ya in the second direction of the housing 2 and is located away from the first plate chamber 11. This causes the coolant to circulate near the pump 4, so that the coolant is less likely to flow and is likely to stagnate at a position away from the pump 4.

When the plate chambers are isolated for each of the heat generating components D, stagnation of the coolant is reduced. When the inflow port 21 communicates with the first through-hole 31, i.e., when the first plate chamber 11 farthest from the inflow port 21 and the outflow port 22 is provided with the communication flow path 23 that first communicates with the inflow port 21, the stagnation of the coolant in the first plate chamber 11 can be reduced. This enables maintaining heat exchange efficiency of the heat generating component D disposed closer to the first plate chamber 11.

The first through-hole 31 is located substantially at the center of the first plate chamber 11. The substantial center of the first plate chamber 11 means a position at which distances between the center of the first through-hole 31 and respective ends of the first plate chamber 11 in each of the second direction Y and the third direction Z are substantially equal to each other. The communication flow path 23 extending in the second direction Y is formed with a flow path that bends in the third direction Z from the other side Yb in the second direction, i.e., a first plate chamber 11 side.

When the first through-hole 31 is located at the center of the first plate chamber 11, the coolant flows and spreads throughout the first plate chamber 11 while flowing downward from the upper side Xa to the lower side Xb in the first direction through the first through-hole 31, thereby reducing stagnation in the first plate chamber 11.

The second plate chamber 12 is located on the lower side Xb in the first direction in the tank chamber 24. The partition 3 in the tank chamber 24 includes the third through-hole 33. The second plate chamber 12 is located on the lower side Xb of the third through-hole 33. The fins 13 are located in the second plate chamber 12. The third through-hole 33 is provided at a position overlapping the fins 13 in the first direction X. As described above, the plurality of fins 13 are provided upright in the first direction X, so that the coolant needs to flow from the upper side Xa in the first direction.

The third through-hole 33 extends in the second direction Y, and the plurality of fins 13 are disposed to extend in the third direction Z. When the fins 13 each have a shape extending in the third direction Z, the coolant once flows in the third direction Z and flows to an end of the second plate chamber 12. The pump 4 is located on the one side Ya in the second direction, so that the coolant flows to the one side Ya in the second direction. When the third through-hole 33 is formed to extend in the second direction Y, the coolant also flows to the other side Yb in the second direction of the second plate chamber 12, thereby enabling stagnation of the coolant in the second plate chamber 12 to be reduced.

In the example embodiment, the heat generating component D having a higher amount of heat is desirably disposed on the lower side Xb of the second plate chamber 12 including the fins 13. However, when each of the multiple heat generating components D generates a large amount of heat, the fins 13 may be provided in the first plate chamber 11. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the multiple heat generating components D, placement and the number of heat generating components D are not limited, and thus the heat generating components D may be disposed as appropriate.

The above example embodiment is merely an example of the present disclosure. The configuration of the example embodiment may be appropriately changed without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure. Example embodiments also may be implemented in combination as far as possible.

Features of the above-described preferred example embodiments and the modifications thereof may be combined appropriately as long as no conflict arises.

While example embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooler comprising: a cold plate to absorb heat from a heat source into coolant; a housing filled with the coolant and located on an upper side of the cold plate in a first direction; and a partition located on a lower side in the housing; wherein the housing includes: an inflow port through which the coolant flows into the housing; and an outflow port through which the coolant flows out of the housing; the inflow port and the outflow port are provided on one side in a second direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction; the cold plate includes a first plate chamber and a second plate chamber in which the coolant flows between the cold plate and the partition; the partition includes a first through hole communicating with the first plate chamber; the first plate chamber is farthest from the inflow port to another side in the second direction; and the housing includes a communication flow path allowing the inflow port to communicate with the first through-hole.
 2. The cooler according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a tank chamber; the second plate chamber is located on a lower side in the first direction of the tank chamber; the partition includes a second through-hole allowing the first plate chamber to communicate with the tank chamber; the inflow port, the communication flow path, the first plate chamber, the tank chamber, the second plate chamber, and the outflow port communicate with each other in this order; and the communication flow path bypasses the tank chamber and extends from the one side to the another side in the second direction.
 3. The cooler according to claim 2, wherein the first through-hole is located at a center of the first plate chamber; and the communication flow path is bent in a third direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction on the other side in the second direction.
 4. The cooler according to claim 2, wherein the partition includes a third through-hole through which the tank chamber communicates with the second plate chamber; the cold plate includes a plurality of fins protruding toward the tank chamber; and the first through-hole and/or the third through-hole overlap the plurality of fins in the first direction.
 5. The cooler according to claim 4, wherein the third through-hole extends in the second direction; and the plurality of fins extend in a third direction.
 6. The cooler according to claim 2, further comprising: a pump to circulate the coolant; wherein the housing includes a pump chamber in which the pump is provided; the pump chamber is provided on the one side in the second direction with respect to the tank chamber; and the pump chamber is between (i) the first plate chamber and the second plate chamber and (ii) the outflow port, to communicate with the first and second plate chambers, and the outflow port.
 7. The cooler according to claim 1, wherein the housing opens on a lower side in the first direction; the partition is separate from the housing, and is located in an opening of the housing; the partition includes a partition wall extending downward in the first direction and being in contact with the cold plate; and the partition wall defines each of the first plate chamber and the second plate chamber. 